Don’t shop cheap; shop smart – maximize your grocery savings by paying less for the foods on your list. With our handy budgeting tips, you can join the new wave of coupon clippers and money savers at the grocery store.

Spend just a bit of time planning before your weekly shopping trip, and the savings may astonish you.

Shop smart: make a list
Make a list before you go to the store, and stick to it. Impulse items add up in a big way. Bring coupons only for items you actually need, and make fewer trips to the store. Not only will you spend less on impulse items each time you go, but you’ll save on gas, too.

Clip grocery coupons and use local discount books or cards
Maybe you haven’t clipped coupons for years. Maybe you never did. But economically challenging times call for extra measures, and coupons are just the way to keep your grocery budget in check. Truly, it’s like FREE MONEY.

Check online sources for coupons that you can use at your local grocery store in addition to coupons available in weekly newspaper circulars. Some people claim to save 10% to 20% on their weekly bill—just by using coupons. To start saving, check out the coupons on BettyCrocker.com .
Another great way to save money is with those school or community discount coupon books or plastic cards. You know, the ones that offer everything from free car washes to two-for-one meals at local restaurants. Buy them and remember to use them. These booklets can pay for themselves with one or two uses.

Buy in bulk for grocery savings
Even with a small family, you can buy in bulk if the product can be shelved, frozen or refrigerated for some duration. If not, combine your food purchases with another family. You can save hundreds of dollars a year on everything from toilet paper to coffee and baking supplies.

Frugal living: make it at home
Seek recipes for dinner and lunch that have few ingredients, which generally translates to fewer dollars spent at the store.
Saving money by making it at home also applies to your daily cup of coffee. Make a small pot for yourself in the morning and bring it along in a travel mug. You won’t believe how much you’ll save by skipping your morning stop at the espresso shop. One latte a day adds up to about $1,200 a year.

Save money on meats for big grocery savings
Resist the urge to buy expensive cuts of meat for casserole or soup recipes. Instead, purchase the most economical selections available.

For example:

Purchase inexpensive ground beef, rather than the more expensive leaner packages. Brown the ground beef over the stove, drain it in a colander, then rinse with hot water to dispel remaining fat. You’ll be left with very lean ground beef for your recipe, but at a great cost-savings to you!

Use inexpensive stew meat in casseroles, soups and stews that call for cubed beef or pork, rather than more expensive lean cuts. The meat will have ample time to tenderize as it cooks, and it will become infused with the other flavors in the dish.

Cooked rotisserie chicken can save you money and time. Many stores offer whole cooked rotisserie chickens at a great price.